UPDATE at 5 p.m.: Security has been requested by the judge. The Dallas County Sheriff’s Office was handling security for the McLelland funeral and that delayed information about the theft of the photos getting to the proper people.

A spokeswoman said the sheriff’s department is talking with the county’s judges about how to handle security. No decision has been made as of just before 5 p.m.

Original post 12:32 p.m.: Security has been ordered for a Dallas County criminal court judge after family photos were taken from the judge’s bench, according to an attorney with knowledge of the situation.

The photos may have been taken over the weekend from what should have been a secure area. The person who took them left the frames and they are being dusted for prints.

Security will also be given to the judge’s family.

There is no known threat but “Why would someone want to know what [the judge’s family] looks like?” the attorney said.

Law enforcement is on high alert after the weekend slayings of Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland and his wife, Cynthia, and the Jan. 31 shooting death of McLelland’s prosecutor Mark Hasse as he walked to the courthouse.

The Dallas Morning News is not naming the judge because of security concerns.

The tragic slaying of Kaufman County DA Mike McLelland and his wife, Cynthia, will force prosecutors everywhere to rethink what they do and how they do it, said a top Dallas County prosecutor.

“All prosecutors are now going to have to question what we do because, again, you’re talking about a man who devoted his life to trying to protect the citizens of Kaufman County,” Dallas County First Assistant Heath Harris said at a news conference. “And they not only killed him, they killed his wife, and that’s unspeakable.”

Harris said security is being ramped up for Dallas County DA Craig Watkins and his staff. Harris, citing security measures, declined to offer specifics. He did say that changes will be made for prosecutors and parking.

“Obviously we have some concerns for the safety of District Attorney Craig Watkins, as well. Clearly being the first African American district attorney in the state of Texas, we’ve always had those concerns for DA Watkins,” Harris said. “We will be heightening our security around him.”

Harris said that Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins, Sheriff Lupe Valdez and county commissioners have been supportive of increased security.

One visible change on Monday at the criminal courthouse just outside of downtown Dallas was that a broken machine to screen bags coming into the courthouse has been replaced at one entrance. Last week, security guards were hand searching bags at one entrance.

The replacement machine was not new and sat next to the broken machine.

Harris said he has always assured attorneys in the past that they were safe. Now, things are different.

“I’ve always assured prosecutors that I’ve never heard of anything like this taking place,” Harris said about what he said before the slayings. “It’s always a concern of individuals who are going to be putting away the bad guys, so to speak, that ‘is there going to be some kind of retaliation?’”

Harris, who has prosecuted gang and death penalty cases, said that the slayings change his perspective on safety.

“I’ve prosecuted some of the worst of the worst, and I’ve never feared, I’ve never feared any retaliation,” Harris said. “Not this extent.”

Harris said that Watkins’ administration would “encourage” the staff to obtain concealed handgun licenses and that some already do. He also suggested that prosecutors always be aware of their surroundings.

Harris said that the Dallas County DA’s office is talking to their counterparts in Kaufman County. Harris said Watkins and his staff will offer any help they can.

“Our hearts are heavy,” Harris said. “We are extremely, extremely horrified at the events in Kaufman County, and we send our prayers to the citizens of Kaufman County and especially the men and women who work at the Kaufman County District Attorney’s office.”

Members of the public and the press have typically been able to approach commissioners after the open part of the regular meeting ends and before they go into their closed session, even though the court is still technically in session. The new belt barriers, and security guards who stand in front of them, prevent such mingling.

Jenkins said the District Attorney’s office has advised him in the past that he has the duty to set rules of decorum, including basic security measures. He said he will check again and may add the issue to next week’s meeting agenda at Dickey’s request.

If the issue came to a vote, it appears Price would be the tie-breaker. He has not weighed in on the belt barriers.

Commissioner Elba Garcia, a Democrat, has said she supports the measure. The only other Republican Commissioner, Mike Cantrell, has said he does not agree with the security measure.